His Wheels International

Interviewed

2012-01-30T11:43:00.000-06:00

Today Audrey, a student in news journalism at Roosevelt University did an interview on His Wheels and Alice. She took copies of Alice's story and brochures to pass out to her classmates. I (Alice) also mentioned to her that I was trying to break into the television news arena. She said one of her classmates is with one of the major news stations and she'd pass our information on to her.

Since Audrey has to write a hard news story of 500-750 words I told her I'm hoping to get a copy so we can post it on our website for others wanting to learn about HWI.

Now on to see the knife, my book editor. Getting final feedback on Chpt. 4 which I hope is just the butter knife, and the butcher knife work on chpt. 5

Biking Cross Country Fund Raiser

2012-01-26T11:48:00.000-06:00

A listener heard me speak on "This is the Day" yesterday and contacted me today. "Alice, I will be riding coast-to-coast this summer. I would like to raise funds for His Wheels on the trip. I will be riding the Adventure Cycling Northern Tier. I would like to put a link to your website on my BikeAcrossUSA.com site. I will create a speech for my local Toastmaster Club.

If you'd like to contribute to his efforts on behalf of His Wheels go to his website.

Here is an example of God fulfilling one of Alice's unspoken dreams having been a cross-country cyclists.

Chris Fabry Program Listener Reply

2012-01-26T11:26:00.000-06:00

(Sent to Chris) "I am sending you this e-mail because since I heard your program on Jan 2, 2012 about the woman that makes the trikes (three wheel bikes) with hand pedals

for the disabled people in Africa, the lord has not left me alone. I am a missionary to... Kenya... Last year ...we had what we call open air rallies where our local church sets up music and dance and the local people start to gather. Then a gospel message is given along with a altar call.... At one of the rallies, far from town... a man rode up on a three wheeler bike just like the one the woman was describing on your show. I noticed the bike right away because my background is in the automotive field. I thought the bike was pretty cool. When the altar call was given this man who was disabled in both of his legs rolled off this bike and drug himself about 40 feet in the muddy trail on his hands and knees to the front of the crowd and received Christ as his Savior. This touched me so much that every time I tell the story I start crying. Could you contact the woman that has this ministry and tell her that possibly this could have been one of her bikes and because of her faithfulness there is one more person in the kingdom," wrote T.

Thanks T. His Wheels has bought a trike in Kenya but we don't have one of our own trikes there. However this is a story we pray will be repeated countless times as a result of His Wheels bikes and trikes.

Wednesday Radio Interview

2012-01-24T17:26:00.002-06:00

Listen to "This Is The Day" tomorrow on Moody Radio at 10AM EST, or streamed lived at their website www.MoodyRadio.org. Alice will be the featured guess during the 10AM segment.

Bikes in Ometepec Gro, Mexico

2012-01-22T13:57:00.000-06:00

A few years ago I had a knock at my door from a missionary from Mexico. "I was given your name and told you may be able to provide bikes for us. I am a missionary in Mexico and we want to use bikes for camp ministries. I am driving back to Mexico in a week." So HWI prepared six bikes and he took them down.

On Jan 2, 2012 I got this message. "Hey I just wanted send you some more pics of the bikes.

We used the bikes as one of the adventures during camp.

One of the campers named Moses latter told his small group leader that the camps really helped him break out of his shell and get to know others. I asked most of the campers that used the bikes how they enjoyed it and they loved it. Thank you again. God Bless you." The Wood Family in Ometepec Gro, Mexico

Tom R's Surprise Party

2012-01-18T15:47:00.000-06:00

Wow did we pull off an awesome surprise on a Gold Oat today. We had a surprise 76th birthday party for Tom R one week early. There were 15 who came to surprise him. We all had a huge dose of laughter, the best medicine possible. First two friends walked in. We pretended like they were checking out the possibilities to come volunteer with us. Next four other people walked in. Tom asked Grant what was going on. Then we brought the cake in and just slid it on the table. He read it "Happy Birthday to a Gold Oat."

"That's Me" Tom said

All the while people kept filing in.

Gotcha

Sure Did!

Basking in our mischief

Hecklers!

The other instigator

Having trouble with those obnoxious candles?

That's one way to keep him quiet

Wow was that good

No-it was downright PERFECT!!!.

New Year - New Opportunities

2012-01-17T17:26:00.001-06:00

The year started off with a bang. Unbeknownst to me two radio interviews I had in the past were rebroadcast at the end of December and on Jan 2, 2012. A local program was on Family Radio in the Chicagoland area. The other was on January 2, 2012 on Chris Fabry Live which was broadcast nationally.

As a result of the broadcasts we've heard from someone who wants to start building our trikes. The newly formed organization has an interest in Haiti, which has been on our hearts at HWI for some time.

A physician just contacted HWI about the possibility of incorporating trikes into his medical missions to the Philippines.

Another person emailed me and informed me that she knew a para olympic cyclist who is also an engineer. We have prayed for such a connection. Please pray with us that as the friend shares with the para olympian that her heart might be moved to check us out.

The Road of Life

2012-01-06T19:51:00.004-06:00

At first I saw God as my observer, my judge,

Keeping track of the things I did wrong,

So as to know whether I merited heaven or hell when I die.

He was out there sort of like a president.

I recognized His picture when I saw it, but I really didn’t know Him.

But later on when I met Christ, it seemed as though life were rather like a bike ride,

but it was a tandem bike, and I noticed that Christ was in the back helping me pedal.

I don’t know just when it was that He

suggested we change places,

but life has not been the same since.

When I had control, I knew the way. It was rather boring but predictable . . .

It was the shortest distance between two points.

But when He took the lead,

He knew delightful long cuts, up mountains, and through rocky places at breakneck speeds,

It was all I could do to hang on! Even though it looked like madness,

He said, “Pedal!”

I worried and was anxious and asked,

“Where are you taking me?” He laughed and didn’t answer, and I started to learn to trust.

I forgot my bring life and entered into the adventure.

And when I’d say, “I’m scared,” He’d lean back and touch my hand.

He took me to people with gifts that I needed, gifts of healing, acceptance and joy.

They gave me gifts to take on my journey,

My Lord’s and mine.

And we were off again.

He said, “Give the gifts away; they’re extra baggage, too much weight.”

So I did,

To the people we met,

And I found that in giving I received,

And still our burden was light.

I did not trust Him, at first,

in control of my life.

I thought He’d wreck it;

But He knows bike secrets,

Knows how to make it bend to take sharp corners,

Knows how to jump to clear high rocks,

Knows how to fly to shorten scary passages.

And I am learning to shut up and pedal

In the strangest places,

And I’m beginning to enjoy the view

And the cool breeze on my face

With delightful constant companion, Jesus Christ.

And when I’m sure I just can’t do anymore,
He just smiles and says . . . “Pedal”

Author unknown

Working Bikes Founder visits His Wheels Headquarter

2011-12-09T17:12:00.001-06:00

Today Lee from Working Bikes located in Chicago came out to His Wheels Headquarters. Working bikes has a system where they have shipped 6,000 bikes around the world this year alone. They have trained mechanics where the shipments are sent. With the bikes they also send spare parts that are needed to repair the bikes. These bikes need more repair than we would put into them. So today we have begun a partnership with Working Bikes. Those bikes that are beyond repair will go to Working Bikes.

Where will this bike go?

No problem. There's room.

Grant is learning from Lee, the pro.

What # of bike does that make Grant?

Guess how many bikes ended up in this load. Add to the number you guess one HWI trike.

They will put our trike on display at their headquarters. Lee will also take it with him to the 50 + events he attends around the state every year.

Working Bikes Visit

2011-12-06T19:15:00.001-06:00

Here are a few pictures from our visit to Working Bikes in Chicago last Tuesday, the 29th.

This is their storefront where they sell bikes, do repairs, and sell a small selection of parts. This is about a quarter of their building where Kevin estimated they have 5,000 bikes stored!

Here Alice and Kevin are getting a run down on how volunteers get involved, while Grant wandered around gaping at the 10 work stands and full tool sets they had in this upstairs workshop.

One Working Bikes' major purposes is to send bikes overseas to partners they have in various Global South countries. All the bikes were all ready to be packed into one shipping container with tons of extra tires, wheels, seats, and other parts they might need to be replaced when they arrive. They give out 5,000 bikes a year this way.

These polaroids are of some of their volunteers who have helped work on bikes and pack shipping containers. They look like a fun group!

This last picture is of one of the ways they like to get people excited about bikes. This old Schwinn trainer is connected to a generator that as you pedal faster turns progressively turns on the each bulb, 1 through 5. Another bike was set up to power a turn-table that played a Diana Ross record.

1st Togo Trike Update

2011-12-03T19:30:00.001-06:00

When the Ebersole's went back to Togo West Africa in 2007, they took one of our first generation trikes. Today I got a report back. I can't think of a better way to celebrate Christmas than knowing how God has used a trike in a person's life. Russ Ebersole wrote, "we exhibited the trike many times as we were looking for a good candidate. Because of its larger size, it was not conducive for a younger child, and the fact that the chain moved continuously (ie, no "glide" if you stopped pedaling) made it more difficult for younger people. But during that term, we found a young man from a village about 7 km away from the hospital who had to have his leg amputated due to a delay in seeking care after a severe fracture that became infected. He was at our hospital for a long time, and afterwards he returned to see us on many occasions. So we gave him the trike, and we have some photos/videos...I will get forward the pictures your way. Thanks so much for that trike, and I know this young man (in his 20s now) certainly appreciates it."

They will take one of our latest generation trikes back with them in the fall. They are interested in possibly getting some compact trike kit.

Our time at UIC

2011-12-01T19:28:00.001-06:00

Here are a couple of pictures of the two different groups that presented on Tuesday about their findings regarding HWI potentially bringing a US trike into production. These undergrad students learned a lot about how hard it is to bring a product to market and we gained a lot more understanding about what we will have to do if we want to make that happen.

This last picture is of Harvey and Alice laughing, I think this portrays the fun that we had that morning both at UIC and at Working Bikes.

Thanks & Congratulations UIC Students

2011-11-29T17:23:00.001-06:00

Hooray to the 9 University of Illinois Chicago (UIC) Students. They gave amazing presentations of their US His Wheels trike findings. What an amazing group of students. Thanks so much to all of you and for the hundreds of hours you poured into the project on behalf of HWI.

Trip to Chicago

2011-11-28T16:46:00.001-06:00

Tomorrow His Wheels travels to University of Illinois (UIC) to hear the US trike feasibility study findings presented by 9 students. Then from UIC we will head south a few miles and meet with the folks at Working Bikes. We look forward to many new discoveries on our trip to Chicago.

Conference Trike Journey Continues

2011-11-28T16:06:00.001-06:00

Since Dr. Harold Adolph took one of our trikes to the Global Missions Health Conference in Louisville, Kentucky, from November 10-12th we got an email from Al, a board member with PET International. PET is a faith-based, (Mennonite I think) volunteer-powered, humanitarian, and world-wide organization. Personal Energy Transportation vehicle is a hand-pedaled three wheel wooden trike. Since their inception in 1995 PET now has 22-affiliate site that have made and distributed 30,000 PETs to 92 countries through over 23 distribution partners. PETS mission is to reflect the love of Jesus Christ by bringing the gift of mobility and dignity to those in developing countries who are unable to walk. Al's email said, “The need has come up for a trike that has higher wheels... and can carry some cargo. From your photos it looks like His Wheels is making a trike much like what we are envisioning. How can we work with you to get a trike that fits our needs?”

The email was followed by an hour phone call. A few days later a meeting was scheduled at His Wheels headquarters for December 5, 2011. Representatives from PET along with someone from Hope Haven will come from Indiana, Missouri and Iowa to meet with us. Hope Haven's mission is Asfollowers of Christ, we unleash potential in people through work and lifeskills so that they may enjoy a productive life in their community. To date,over 90,000 wheelchairs have been distributed in 106 countries.This ministry,as with all of Hope Haven's services, is "a ministry of Christian mercybased on the conviction that God's Word speaks to and directs all oflife." There is also a program in Guatemala where the disabled are manufacturing wheelchairs and have built some other prototypes.

We look forward to what God has in store. Please pray for safe travels and God's will to be done through this meeting whereby we as the Church of Jesus Christ can assist those in need through the tool of transportation.

Christmas Bike Sale

2011-11-16T14:50:00.001-06:00

Bike Sale rescheduled for this Friday from 9AM-2PM instead of Saturday. The sale is at 302 Union St. in Wheaton, across the street from the 10,000 Village Sale. If you can help email me at info@hiswheels.org. If you are interested in buying a bike we have about 30 bikes for sale.

Trike headed to Togo West Africa

2011-11-11T19:41:00.001-06:00

Yesterday I emailed Dr. Harold Adolph who took our trike to the Global Missions Health Conference this week. I had learned that Dr. Ebersole, whom we sent a trike to Togo with in 2007, was speaking at the conference.

Today I got an email from Dr. Harold Adolph who is at the Global Missions Health Conference where he had a trike. He said, "You will be interested to know that God arranged to have this trike go to Togo and my brother Bob packed it up in his vehicle to take to someone going to Togo soon. They will take pictures and send them to you.

I had just told the Lord that the trike still didn't have a home and would He please help me find a good home for it. At our booth, when I arrived, was my brother who said he would like it to go to Togo. That was a long wait for a great answer."

How exciting to think of where this trike will take His Wheels. We trust the travelers and the trike will have a safe journey.

Global Missions Health Conference

2011-11-10T14:48:00.001-06:00

Dr. Adolph with Soddo Christian Hospital took one of HWI's trikes tot the Global Missions Health Conference in Louisville, KY. The conference is from Nov. 10-12th. We are then hoping to give the trike away to an organization that is participating in the conference who may have a way to use trikes in their ministry overseas.

University of Illinois Trike feasibility Presentations

2011-11-01T15:15:00.000-05:00

The University of Illinois Chicago (UIC) Students have been working on a US trike feasibility study for His Wheels this semester. On November 29, from 8:00 a.m. to 9:15 a.m. the students will present their findings. The 2 groups compiled of 9 students will both give a 20-30 minute presentation. It will take place on Univ. of IL Chicago campus in the Physical Education Building (PEB) on Roosevelt Rd. We would welcome board members, potential investors, volunteers and others who are interested in hearing the presentation to consider coming. The room holds 48 people so lets fill the room up. Please consider joining us or pass it on to someone you think may be interested. Let Alice know if you can make it by emailing me at info@hiswheels.org. We will give you specific directions then.

Praising The Ultimate Dream Weaver- Jesus Christ

2011-10-30T07:56:00.000-05:00

This young boy suffers from paralysis of his legs from polio.

"His Wheels International has provided the parts for a tricyle that will allow him mobility around Soddo Ethiopia that will keep him from crawling in the dust and mud from now on. He is on the small side and so the trike will be downsized to accommodate him. His family is extremely happy that he will be able to go to school in this way! PTL and thanks to HIS WHEELS. We hope to be able to start a little plant to manufacture these on our own in Soddo." Duane Anderson, MD

Soddo Christian Hospital

In the future Soddo won't have to down size trikes. We now have a compact trike that will comfortably fit people from 5 years old to those who are 5 feet tall.

Ethiopian Trike Project

2011-10-24T20:48:00.002-05:00

Today Dr. Anderson sent us a message from Soddo Christian Hospital in Ethiopia today. "All the trikes are done! We will start distribution soon." You may remember that in May 2010 we sent a crate filled with 15 trike kits and one completed trike via a container to Soddo Christian Hospital. The container arrived at the hospital on December 31, 2010 which was January 1, 2011 in Ethiopia.

His Wheels Trikes fabricated in Ethiopia

Mission Accomplished

Please pray with us that God would use the trikes as a tool for expanding His Kingdom as they distribute them to those in need.

Speechless and Surprised

2011-10-22T20:17:00.001-05:00

This week has been one of organizational soul searching. After 17 months in our headquarters, many awesome things have happened but we still have trouble identifying our focus. After talking with our team, consulting with one of our consultants and supporters and prayerfully considering the options we as a board had concluded that maybe it was time to close the headquarters. We could downsize and pull back and try to clarify the vision. After discussing it with nine people Kevin and I were getting ready to end the lease in December. However God made it clear He had other plans. A businessman said he didn't think it was time for us to close the headquarters. He helped us identify some of what we needed. Then he said, I so believe in what you are doing that I am going to cover the next eight months of your rent and then we will reevaluate the situation. I (Alice) left the meeting with this businessman speechless. So much so that Kevin said, "I've never seen you speechless. This is kind of fun to watch."

One of the needs we have is for volunteers who can keep the building open so others can come into work. It would not require mechanical skills but more receptionist type skills. If you or someone you know would be interested in volunteering in this way please contact our office at 630-510-1005 or email us at info@hiswheels.org. In the meantime please rejoice with us in how God has chosen to make His plan clear. Pray for clarity, direction, discernment and wisdom.

Record High

2011-10-21T14:20:00.002-05:00

This morning there were 13 of our His Wheels team at the Headquarters along with Rick and Carol Calenberg missionaries serving with SIM (Serving in Mission). The Calenbergs spent several years as missionaries in Nigeria. On Sunday I (Alice) thought Rick was the missionary in the picture I had of the trikes we bought in Nigeria back in 2005 but I was wrong. God used that mistake to bring us together for a meeting this morning. He knew all the people in the picture and could speak of the way transportation meets such an important need for those in Nigeria and throughout the world. Rick encouraged us to continue our work and shared some scripture with us of continuing on along the highway of holiness.

Our staff team also met today and began to discuss some of the other needs we have to build our infrastructure. In a few weeks we hope to bring some of our needs to you to see if you can help. Please pray for us as we determine the tools needed to take His Wheels to the next destination God has for us.

A man along the road

2011-10-16T13:42:00.000-05:00

Melessa who received the first His Wheels trike in Ethiopia last January is from Kambata, Ethiopia. He saw this man crawling in the street about 150 km from Soddo, Ethiopia. He told him about His Wheels trikes.

Melessa took him on his motorized trike to Hailemariam's garage where they are being fabricated.

Hailemariam is the older man standing next to the trike.

I, Alice, sometimes wonder if I'm all alone. My faith falters as at times when I'm waiting for a need of mine to be met. I wonder how will God meet my need when I can't imagine any human solution. This has been one of those week. However this picture comforts my heart. The Lord knew this man's need and I can't help to think that this man probably wondered if God would meet his basic need of transportation. I wonder how his life has been changed forever because Melessa stopped, gave him a ride, and how those through Soddo Christian Hospital provided a trike which Hailemariam fabricated.

Melessa arranged for the transport of the trike to Kambata for very little
money.

Praise the Lord that we can partner together providing trikes as a tool for aiding and expanding Christ's Kingdom work. Thanks Dr. Duane Anderson for the story and pictures.

Missions Week

2011-10-16T13:26:00.001-05:00

Today at Wheaton Evangelical Free Church's Missions Conference Rick, an SIM missionary spoke. I, Alice, had never met Rick, however when he mentioned serving in Nigeria a lightbulb went off. He was present when Tracy, another missionary gave away the first 5 trikes I bought locally in Nigeria in 2004. In 2007 Zachariah, an international student from Nigeria saw the picture of the trikes I'd given away. He pointed out that the white man in the picture was Rick. Today I met Rick for the first time. On Friday he is going to visit His Wheels headquarters.

Contacts

2011-09-26T10:25:00.001-05:00

It is Amazing to me how contacts lead to contacts and then to possibilities that were only a remote thought just a couple months ago. The meeting with the UIC students on Saturday was just one of those amazing events that only God through contacts arranges. The possibilities are beginning to be just that, real possibilities. Where this will go only One knows. Thanks for contacts and possibilities!

Brainstorming with UIC Students

2011-09-24T18:35:00.001-05:00

Today 7 University of Illinois Chicago (UIC) students came to HWI office to gather information for the US trike feasibility study they are doing for us as a class project. I (Alice) thought they were Masters level students but today I learned they are all undergraduates completing their degree in kinesiology, the same degree I got from UIC back in 1990.

Our trike team spent 3 hours answering their questions, telling how our trike division evolved and when their brains were spinning from all the technical information I got to share my personal story and give God the glory. The energy, enthusiasm, excitement, and interest they had for the project was electrifying.

Watching them try the trikes, hearing why they chose the project, sharing some good laughs and exchanging great ideas was all a plus.One student was a marathon runner. He said he would love to use one of our trikes to train for marathons, getting his upper body in shape. He took it for the longest ride. Kevin our engineer said, “I haven’t seen anyone burn rubber on the trike yet.” So this guy took it as a personal challenge and gave it his best effort. Afterwards Kevin said, “I saw rubber burning.” My eyesight wasn’t quite that clear!

How is your eyesight?

When I left the joy in my heart bubbled over and out. Today God gave me much more than I could have ever imagined. My dream was to teach physical education and pursue my PhD in exercise physiology but my disability made that an impossibility.

Our Latest US Trike

2011-09-21T20:32:00.001-05:00

Kevin, our trike engineer has surprised us again with his amazing skill, creativity and simplicity.

It moves fast with seven gears

The seat is comfy

Nice storage underneath and there is also a back basket

Slick wheels

Long Time No Post

2011-09-21T20:05:00.001-05:00

I (Alice) enjoyed a much needed time off in early September. But His Wheels kept marching on in my absents thanks to our volunteers and our bike and trike coordinators.

Today there were 7 of us. We were from 6 different area churches. On our Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday morning workdays we take time for updates and then we pause to pray. Here are some of the updates I shared today.

Kevin our engineer brought our new US trike by so volunteers could take it for a spin and give input.
Yesterday I got to try the trike and Kevin and I had a long discussion about the pros and cons and maneuverability of the trike.
A Boy Scout from a neighboring suburb heard me on the radio in August. He contacted us about doing his Eagle Scout project with us. The project has been submitted for approval and then he hopes to begin with us.
A friend of the ministry referred one of his friends to begin helping with HWI. The man just lost his wife to death and is looking for a place to volunteer. He is an avid cyclists and does his own wrenching (bike mechanics) and has a dream to build his own bike. He came by today to check us out, he talked with our trike design engineer about his ideas and he plans to join our team.
On Friday a missionary is coming by to discuss ways he can reach out to an immigrant apartment community using bicycles as his curriculum to draw the adolescent boys in the complex together. We are going to brainstorm with him. He has the missionary heart and some bicycle knowledge but his dream is part of our dream.
On Saturday 10 Master's students from University of Illinois are coming to the headquarters to learn more from us as they venture out to do a U.S. trike feasibility study for us.

We stand in awe of how the Lord is growing His Wheels and using bikes and trikes as a tool for expanding His Kingdom. Pray with us about these up and coming opportunities.

Trike to University of Illinois Chicago

2011-08-30T12:25:00.000-05:00

Today our trike team of Kevin our engineer, Ken our trike coordinator and Alice our Executive Director went to University of Illinois Chicago and presented a US version of the trike to a class. Alice is an alumni of UIC. On Thursday the students choose what team they want to be part of. I believe there will be 2 trike teams with 5 students/team. They will do a feasibility study and present their findings in about 14 weeks. All 3 of us were encouraged and look forward to what God has planned.

Once again Kevin surprised us all with his amazing creativity. We are all grateful for the unique gifts that each of us bring to the team. Alice began the presentation by sharing the way HWI got started. Having had a class in the very same classroom she began her speech from that point. Then Ken, who has spent many years as a missionary kid and then a missionary in Africa explained the value of the trike. Kevin ended our time by debuting the new trike and talking about the features.

Thanks to all who prayed. Indeed God was glorified and we were encouraged. Only the Lord knows where this all will lead. We are glad He does.

Open House August 27, 2011

2011-08-27T21:06:00.000-05:00

We had an awesome open house. About 30 people attended. What we lacked in numbers we exceeded in sharing, encouraging, and passing the torch of God's goodness on to each other through recalling stories of God's faithfulness. We brought in 15 bikes. This AM we had 10 people help us. Thanks to all who came, encouraged us through notes and prayer. We serve an awesome God who wants to astound us by His miracles.

Mailbox Surprises

2011-08-23T18:59:00.000-05:00

Today I received two fun pieces of mail.

The first was a letter from an St. James Episcopal Church in New Hampshire. Before opening it I thought, "Who heard about us in NH and how did they hear about us." The check was accompanied with a short note that said, "With our prayers and support Tobias and St James Episcopal Church." The note made my, Alice's, day because back in 1983 I lived with Tobias, Rose and their then three children in Harare Zimbabwe while doing a nine-week mission trip. While using their family bike, I thought,"if I only had a brake cable and a tool I could fix this bike." It was then that I knew God was calling me to provide tools so the nationals could serve their own people. The idea germinated for 20 years until 2003 when a Tanzanian mentioned how valuable a bicycle would be to help nationals help there own people. Thanks Tobias, Rose and church family.

The other piece of mail said, "My sister bought a bike at your bike sale last week. I am interested in volunteering to help with working on bikes. Thank you!

Open House/Bike Collection/Workday

2011-08-22T07:45:00.006-05:00

Saturday August 27, 2011
21W161 Hill Ave.
Glen Ellyn, IL 60137
Location: His Wheels Headquarters
Detailed Map to HWI Headquartershttp://www.hiswheels.org/Resources/Layout/Sidebar/map.png

9AM-8PM Bike Collection
9-1PM: Workday to prepare for open house.
1-8PM: Open House & Refreshments. Between
2-3PM we will have an hour of sharing and prayer.

Bring a friend and come join us. We are aiming for 200 people, doubling last years attendance.
Address: Find a clear map with directions to our office on the front page of our website at www.hiswheels.org.

Bike Sale Ends Early

2011-08-19T20:47:00.000-05:00

We sold out of adult bicycles. In just over 4 hours we sold 44 bikes in the past 2 days. We brought in $5,000. We only had 10 children's bikes left over. We will have those for sale at our open house next Saturday. Thanks for making our first annual return to college sale such a success.

Thanks also to Katie Stump for sharing her graphics artists skills and making such a catchy sign. Thanks also to the Stump's for hosting the sale.

Bike Sale

2011-08-18T19:40:00.000-05:00

Awesome bike sale today. We sold over 20 bikes and made $2,565. Thanks to all who came, spread the word and made it happen. We will be there tomorrow from 3-5PM again. Address is 812 N. President St./Wheaton, IL

Ken attends Global Leadership Summit

2011-08-16T13:05:00.000-05:00

It was a great two days to hear from some the foremost business personalities in todays market along with some of the most exciting church leaders out there. Here are some of the people we heard from- Mama Maggie Gobran, Bill Hybels, Steven Furtick, Honorable Cory A. Booker, Seth Godin, Erwin McManus, and others. Many of these names are not familiar but google them and see who they are. It was a great time of learning leadership principles in business and ministry. It was a great time.

Trike Progress

2011-08-16T12:54:00.000-05:00

A few pictures of the progress on the US trike prototype. The seat is

partially assembled and shown in position on the partially assembled

frame. One of the actual size wheels is shown temporarily clamped in

place to help verify final side to side clearance. Unlike our African

trikes designed with a wide wheelbase for rough and uneven terrain,

this design will be narrower. This will allow it to go thru most

doorways and narrower openings, such as a wheelchair can.

Mark Your Calendar

2011-08-10T15:11:00.000-05:00

Thursday Work Evenings: August 11 and 25 from 6:30P-9:30P. You are welcome to come and learn how to repair bikes

Saturday August 13, 2011 tune in to 91.9, Family radio in the Chicagoland area, WJCH on . The show is aired at 6:30AM, 12P and 5 PM.

Bike Sale on Thurs, Aug, 18th, Friday Aug. 19th, Sat. Aug 20th, and Tues Aug. 22 from 3-5PM at 812 N. President St., Wheaton, IL 60187

Join us for His Wheels International's Open House: Saturday, August 27th

9-1PM: Workday to prepare for open house. 1-8PM: Open House & Refreshments. Between 2-3PM we will have an hour of sharing and prayer. Bring a friend and come join us at 21W161 Hill Ave. Glen Ellyn, IL 60187. Find map and directions on our website home page at www.hiswheels.org

Nearing Completion of my 1st book proposal

2011-08-04T20:22:00.000-05:00

I have 11 more paragraphs to write, which are chapter descriptions for my book proposal. The sample chapter is ready, the cover letter is ready and hopefully next week it is off to publishers. What an exhilarating and exhausting feeling all at once.

Thanks to all who have made my memoir a reality. They include those who challenged me to write the book, those who've read the book, those who walked through the journey as I lived the book first, those who are doing final read throughs and all the other people who contributed in so many unique ways to my life, my character and my growth.

Work Begins

2011-08-03T08:00:00.000-05:00

As you may have noticed, we have temporarily halted work on the racing

trike, due to a delay getting the appropriate wheels for the rear.

In the meantime, another of our current projects has been developing…a

prototype hand pedaled trike designed for the US market. It will be

used to research the feasability of such a trike, and wether it would

sell for an acceptable profit. That profit would then be used by HWI

to support our international hand pedaled trike program. Such an

alternate “income source” would be especially helpful in paying for a

portion of the cost of these trikes in places where the disabled

recipient cannot afford to pay the full price of the trike they need.

In the pictures below you will see some of the parts for the new seat

design. While this US trike will be similar in some ways to our

African style trikes, it will have several changes that we feel may be

crucial to a US market. One of these is a somewhat more sophisticated

seat design that looks better and is easier to adjust. It will also

have an easily removed seat back to allow the trike to fit into most

cars.

Ken learns about Blogs

2011-07-26T15:19:00.001-05:00

Today Alice, Grant and Ken tried to get on the same page with HWI's social media output. We are almost there, who knows we may only be 3-4 years behind the curve soon.

Big Day-Riding on Faith Manuscript finished

2011-07-24T10:08:00.000-05:00

Today, 20 years after the onset of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome I finished my read through/corrections on my manuscript, Riding on Faith. I got the word count down from 104,000 to 66,000. I've copied it, sent it out to readers. Next step is an annotated Table of Contents, cover letter, sample chpt. and off to the publishers. Oh, bathed in prayer of course.

The Gift of Words

2011-07-20T19:03:00.000-05:00

Here is a paragraph from one of the Eastern European Students who has the privilege of studying in America for six weeks during the summer. It is a program that involves the efforts of Wheaton College, Domanada Foundation and others. Before leaving they write up a final paper about their experience.

Specifically I want to give some place in my writing to bicycle. (You know that every student was given a free bicycle in the beginning of the program.) First, I did not bike for about 30 years! So, for me it was a challenge to get back to the saddle. But little by little I get to use biking and my last achievement was driving to the church 12 miles away from the campus. 12 miles one way and 12 miles return by prairie path. I was exhausted but happy. Not only because of the beauty of the forests and parks, but because two of my dreams come true. I always wanted to bike with my wife and our oldest son, but was kind of too timid to do so. Also, I dreamed about coming to US and go wherever I want all by myself. I thought for this reason I need to rent a car, but bike is quite appropriate and absolutely free of gas expenses.

When he went home we sent him with a pedal to fix his son's bike.

Wheaton E Free 3 min. speech

2011-07-10T12:50:00.000-05:00

Here is the 3 min. speech I gave in our church service this AM.

Thanks for the opportunity to share a few ways Wheaton E Free has reached out and impacted our neighbors. Back in 2003 the Govertsons invited a couple from Tanzania, and myself for dinner. Through our conversation, the vision for His Wheels International was sparked. Then in 2005, during one of the darkest seasons of my life, God challenged me to obey Him and begin His Wheels International, which I did.

His Wheels mission is to provide bikes and hand-pedaled trikes through global partnerships as a tool for expanding Christ’s Kingdom. In the United States we collect, repair and redistribute used bicycles. Through our global division we have designed a hand-pedaled trike and a trike-building program to benefit those with lower extremity disabilities. Since our inception His Wheels has distributed over 1,400 bikes to individuals affiliated with 88 countries and 52 trikes are on 5 continents. The latest trike was fabricated and distributed in Soddo, Ethiopia last week. The recipient, disabled by polio, will use the trike to travel to work, where he shines shoes to support his family.

Now - Fast forward to 2010.

One day Jeanne Wendt learned, as a result of the tutoring program with Lincoln School, that a staff member was buying bicycles out of her own pocket. Jeanne said, “I think we can help” so last year we distributed 9 bikes. Then in November WEFC and HWI entered into a non-financial partnership.

This spring 14 church families delivered 25 bikes. The recipients affiliated with Lincoln School were from 8 countries.

One bike was given so a father had transportation to get to work, now no longer able to afford gas.

When one little boy saw his bike he said, "This is the bike I've always wanted!"

Another hopped right on her bike and rode down the sidewalk."

One family said, “Thanks this is like Christmas in July!"

When I delivered 5 bikes to a family the mother and I shared a hug, and I was invited in. There I had the opportunity to tell the children about Summer Bible Clubs, through the church, “where you go for your School Christmas Programs.”

If you are interested in volunteering, or learning more about our bike deliveries and His Wheels International join us next hour in room 201, New Life Class. Also, pick up a brochure at the visitor’s center.

I close by saying, thanks for the ways that you too have made a difference by reaching out.

Wheaton E. Free Church

2011-07-10T08:19:00.000-05:00

This AM I am giving a 3 min. update at Wheaton E. Free Church about the 34 bikes we have given through a partnership with HWI and Lincoln School. Then during the Sunday School hour I am sharing my story to one of the classes for about 40 minutes.

My Senseless Act- God’s Sovereign Plan

2011-07-08T17:02:00.001-05:00

On Thursday, June 30^th I sat down in hopes of writing out all the checks to cover His Wheels bills for June. In addition I was planning to write out our rent check for July 2011. I knew the funds were tight and expected that I would have to write out a personal check to His Wheels to cover the organizations financial gap. Since we moved into HWI’s headquarters I have not received the okay from God to go look for money for HWI or to ask for money. Nor have I had to write a check from my personal account to HWI’s account. Instead I’ve sensed God has wanted me to follow Him and rely on Him. I know in this culture that sounds crazy. I would be the first to agree that it sounds crazy-or admit it is crazy

While writing out checks I had two to go, when I ran out of my booklet of checks. One of those left to write was the July rent check, which is where we had a $700 short fall. I thought, “No problem I have almost two full boxes of checks.” I wasn’t sure if they were at my home or headquarters office and to complicate matters someone other than me had cleaned both offices. When I didn’t find them at home I checked the headquarters office and couldn’t find them there either. I informed my landlord that I couldn’t find the checks and asked if I could submit it on Tuesday.

Over the weekend my memory went back to all the “old account” checks I had shredded months earlier. Well in a senseless act I somehow shredded the current checks too. So I emailed my landlord on Tuesday AM and explained my situation and asked if he wanted a money order or if he wanted to wait for my new checks that I put in as a rush order. I didn’t tell him the financial piece of the story because he deserves his money in a timely fashion for the outstanding services rendered.

All week I’ve wondered, “what is this senseless check thing all about?” I was sure God knew which check I couldn’t afford and I knew it wasn’t a mistake that I ran out before writing the rent check. However, I also didn’t feel led to write a check to HWI from my personal account. So I waited. Today I got a letter from the electric company. It looked different than my normal bill. As I opened it up, there was a check for $800 to cover the gap in our bills. All I could do was chuckle as I said, “God You sure have a sense of humor and from the electric company of all places.” I wasn’t expecting the check. They were returning our initial security down payment from when we moved in. I knew they were going to “return it when our credit had been established.” But only God knew the timing-His perfect timing. Now I’m just waiting for the new checks to arrive so I can write out our rent check.

Indeed God answers prayer!

The Smile Says It All

2011-07-02T16:54:00.004-05:00

The first HWI trike fabricated in Soddo Ethiopia went to this gentleman. The surgeon reports, "I saw him crawling in the streets of Soddo about 4 years ago and offered surgery to him on the spot. He had severe polio years ago. He underwent hip releases and knee fusions. He shines shoes to make a living down by Soddo University. I have promised him this bike for 8 months. Today he saw it for the first time. He walks very slowly with crutches."

Soddo Trike Project Begun

2011-07-01T13:44:00.002-05:00

What a thrill to open my email today and find a picture of the first HWI trike fabricated in Soddo, Ethiopia. Melessa, the one next to the welder received the first HWI trike, that we sent assembled, back in January. Melessa knows the benefit of the trikes and has been pressuring the team to fabricate the other 15 trikes. The orthopedic surgeon reports that, "Melessa is such a big help!" The welder also took parts to fabricate another 2 trikes.

This trike will go to a polio patient like Melessa who the orthopedic surgeon operated on about 2years ago. The recipient is supporting his family shining shoes down near the university. He will be very happy after we make some small modifications to accommodate his knee fusions.

What a reason for rejoicing.

4th of July Parade Request

2011-06-30T21:06:00.002-05:00

We are still in need of people to help with the Wheaton, IL 4th of July Parade. We stage at Evangelical Child & Family Services on Main St. across from Walgreens. The street closes off at 9AM. The parade steps off at 10A. We'd like to have our crew there by 9:30A. If you are able to help, please let me know.

Update

2011-06-30T11:40:00.000-05:00

The radio interview with "This is the Day, Worldview Wednesday" on WMBI.fm went well yesterday.

We had over 40 people view yesterday alone. Thus far for the month of June we have had 629 people view our site.

A church member said, "Great report today and God was very center of your report, thank you for all you do in a humble way. May God continue to grow His wheels."

A former board member said, "Sounded great! It's encouraging to hear the story again."

One couple wrote: "We heard about you on Moody today. My husband has given away more than 2,000 bikes over the past twenty years. We would like to volunteer for the 4th of July parade. We look forward to getting involved in your ministry.

Another wrote I have a bike to donate- how can I get it to you???

My editor said, "Woohoo! Not many people get plugs for their book before it's even published! Nice job. :-)"

Today after I received this note back after our June Newsletter went out by email yesterday.

"It's exciting to see what you've done with your life and to know that I "knew you when" you were a vibrant, busy teenager. Now you suffer from such a dreadful illness and are still vibrant & busy & fruitful for Christ! Totally cool!! Blessings!"

Over half-way

2011-06-28T20:32:00.000-05:00

The book-past the half-way point in my read through/edits. It's all down hill from here, from the cyclists view, not the locals perspective. On to 2005-start of HWI through to 2010. What a Jubilee year celebration it will be to have my book done soon. Yippeeeeee!!!!

4th of July Parade

2011-06-27T21:48:00.000-05:00

His Wheels is in the Wheaton 4th of July Parade on Monday. It steps off at 10AM. We could use some help from children over 12 up to adults. We have trikes to ride, banners to carry, and brochures to pass out. If you can help please let me know.

Our team is growing!

2011-06-24T21:53:00.000-05:00

At Thurs. night's work time 6 people attended. Grant taught basic tire changing skills. He explain presto and shrader valves. He explained that a Schwinn 26x 1-3/8th tire only fits on a Schwinn rim. Non Schwinn 27x1-3/8th rims require a different tire. He then demonstrated how to use tire irons instead of flat end screwdrivers to change the tire. Lots of opportunities for practice.

Today 8 people worked at the shop ranging in age from 16 to 81 representing 4 churches. What fun we had fixing bikes together, praying and thanking the Lord that we can serve Him, and joking with each other. "Hey, why do you have 2 different shoes on?" You can hear it next. Come share in the fun. Also a couple networking sessions around the pool table!

We also had a Wheaton Bible Church family come and pick up a bike for an Iraqi refugee they are helping out through the church. The one who came was a career missionary in the Central Republic of Africa. Now he is retired but still goes back and forth. In July when one of their team members returns to the area he wants to discuss the possibility of a trike project there.

Question & Answer

2011-06-10T21:34:00.001-05:00

Here is a question someone asked me

Q: “What have you discovered about God and yourself as the result of starting His Wheels.

A: Chronic Fatigue Syndrome refined my focus, but first it destroyed all my personal dreams. Only then could God give me the desires of my heart.” I thought my dreams equaled the desires of my heart. However I’ve found that “the desires of my heart” require the creativity of a Sovereign God to implement. My dreams are the highlighting threads woven amidst my heart’s desires. I shudder to think what I would have forfeited if I insisted on fulfilling my dreams my way and turned against God’s word, which says, “Delight yourself in the LORD, and he will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the LORD; trust in him, and he will act.” (Ps. 37:4-5)

Volunteer help needed: 4th of July Parade

2011-06-09T18:30:00.000-05:00

Are you available to join His Wheels in Wheaton, IL 4th of July Parade. The parade is on Main St. in Wheaton. It steps off at 10AM on Mon. July 4th. We could use your help: passing out our new brochures, riding one of our trikes, carrying the banner, and other things. Please let us know if you can help.

Upcoming Radio Appearance

2011-06-09T16:10:00.000-05:00

Just accepted an invitation to be on WMBI, This is The Day, with Nancy Turner on Wednesday June 29, 2011 at 10AM. Listen in by radio or internet.

Cycles for Six Countries in a Day

2011-06-07T18:42:00.000-05:00

Today was an exceptional day in my cycling career. Keep in mind my goal by the age of 30 was to bicycle on all 7 continents and through all 50 States. By then I’d biked on 4 continents and through 30 states. My day began by driving 3 miles to His Wheels International’s headquarters, arriving at 9AM. There I met up with Richard and Tom C, two of our volunteers who were fixing bikes. By noon I had visited and distributed nine bicycles to pastor’s, Bible school professors, youth minister’s, and other Christian leaders from Romania, Belarus, Russia, Macedonia and Moldova. When I dreamed of visiting all those countries by bike I never dreamed of hearing, “Thanks, you are such a neat lady,” and receiving hugs, and thanks as I watched them ride off on bikes. There are 13 Christian Workers here for a six-week study program affiliated with Wheaton College. They will have bicycles to tour my hometown and will return home and tell others about “the bike lady.”

Well, I don’t know about you, but by the time I visited all the representatives from those different countries I thought I’d kick back and relax. Instead I got home and made some HWI calls and “pastored” one of our team members who were facing some tough challenges in life.

Around 4PM I just about caught my breath and I was off to deliver 4 bikes to a refugee family from Nepal. When I arrived I was flocked by children and then mom, dad, grandma, and neighbors came to see what was going on. It reminded me of when I landed on a village airstrip in Zimbabwe as a short-term missionary, a passenger in a small Mission Aviation Plane. I fitted the four children with bikes and since I was unsure which bike would fit one of the children I took a 5^th bike with me.

After fitting the children, the mother straddled the 5th bikes. I began to show her how to ride. In sweltering heat of about 96-degree we had a parade of bikes swirling around the parking lot in this apartment complex. The father too got on one of the bikes. After about ½ an hour I was getting ready to leave. In broken English the mother said, “I love you.” I asked if I could give her a hug and she agreed so we embraced. We couldn’t share a language but we could share a thank you through a hug. The father shook my hand and put his finger up indicting for me to wait a minute. He ran inside and got me a can of pop and made a thank you head gesture. Here was an example of wanting to give back to me as a way of saying thank you for giving to us. The grandma told me her name and I tried to pronounce it. Oh they did so much better at my name than I did of theirs.

After a couple sips of pop they invited me in. I went in. Before I sat down they had turned the fan my direction making sure I was comfortable. The father ran into the kitchen and prepared a plate of fruit for me: an apple and grapes. Before long there were many small hands coming over to share in the fruit platter, which the parents wanted to give just to me. However, I welcomed all the children to eat and enjoy my feast with me. As we shared one of the girls asked if we sell bikes. I said “Yes, we sell some and we pray for God to provide the money for others so we can give them to you. Isn’t that neat to get a bike?” Before I left I told them the bikes came from the Wheaton E. Free Church where their school does their special Christmas program. I also was able to ask if they wanted information about our summer program for children. After an hour with the family I left blessed by how they had treated me as the guest of honor sharing a feast with me overflowing out of their poverty. How true that for all of us the verse is applicable: “It is more blessed to give than to receive.”

At the age of 30 I would have laughed if someone told me I’d get a hug and an “I love you from a person from Nepal,” on the same day a pastor from Russia would give me a hug and say, “You are a special lady.” Indeed God has allowed His Wheels to use bicycles as a tool for expanding Christ's Kingdom.

Fulfilling our Mission

2011-06-06T23:46:00.001-05:00

One of our new volunteers this year was a person who loved to bike but could no longer do so due to a serious health problem. While working together the volunteer shared with me, “My life is ruined,” from this health issue. This week I had the privelage of leading the volunteer to the Lord. I pointed out how scripture is filled with paradoxes and quoted II Cor. 12:10, "When we are weak then we are strong" (II Cor. 12:10). Here is a precious example of how bikes and trikes were used as a tool for expanding Christ's Kingdom.

I have clung to that scripture many times over the past 19 years with my medical disability with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. I can especially relate to how The Message Bible words that passage. You may too.

^7-10Because of the extravagance of those revelations, and so I wouldn't get a big head, I was given the gift of a handicap to keep me in constant touch with my limitations. Satan's angel did his best to get me down; what he in fact did was push me to my knees. No danger then of walking around high and mighty! At first I didn't think of it as a gift, and begged God to remove it. Three times I did that, and then he told me,

My grace is enough; it's all you need.
My strength comes into its own in your weakness.
Once I heard that, I was glad to let it happen. I quit focusing on the handicap and began appreciating the gift. It was a case of Christ's strength moving in on my weakness. Now I take limitations in stride, and with good cheer, these limitations that cut me down to size—abuse, accidents, opposition, bad breaks. I just let Christ take over! And so the weaker I get, the stronger I become. (The Message Bible II Cor. 12:7-10)

Today's Activities

2011-06-03T15:38:00.000-05:00

On Wed. night after helping a HWI volunteer pick shop for bike gear we went out for dinner. While eating his wife mentioned they were getting rid of a pool table. My eyes lit up. It's been on my office wish list. I'm going over today to begin disassembling it. I'm looking for 2 strong college men or young grads to help us move 3 pieces of 3/4 in. slate sometime in the next week. Let me know if you can help.

We are gearing up to give away 13 bicycles next week to a group of Christian workers from the Eastern European block who will be here on a study program at Wheaton College for 6 weeks.

Today we had 6 people working on bikes. There were 5 area churches represented. One of our new workers I met during CareFest. I remember meeting his wife and asking, "What do you like to do as a hobby?" Not knowing my bent towards bikes she said, "take day long bicycle trips." We were off (sort to speak). With time I learned her husband likes to tinker with bikes. So he has joined us.

May's Activities

2011-06-01T10:55:00.002-05:00

We had 10,500 color brochures printed in May. God provided us with an awesome deal.

2. After paying all our bills for May and June's rent we remain debt free.

3. Over 442 people watched our You Tube video in May

4. We had 619 people view our website in May of which 315 were new viewers as opposed to 363 total people view our site in May 2010.

5. In May we picked up bikes from Winfield Police Department.

6. One of our big give away projects was in conjunction with an elementary school in Wheaton and Wheaton E. Free Church, my home church. We gave away 18 bikes to 12 families. We had 11 families from the church do the deliveries. We just got a new request today for another family from the school for 4 bikes.

7. We also gave away 2-3 bikes weekly to World Relief DuPage

8. During our weekly mechanics days we continued fixing bikes.

9. In June we provide bikes for a group of Christian workers who come from the Eastern European block to study for 6 weeks. They will be here soon.

10. I've already had a few missionaries knock on my door to let me know they are back in the country. They last received bikes from us in 2006 and are now back on their next year long furlough.

11. Here's our new challenge from one of our consultants. For 10 new people to view His Wheels site at www.hiswheels.org and to watch the video that is on the front page. Then for those 10 to tell another 10 people each and those 10 tell another 10 people to equal 100 and the repeat the cycle. Our overall goal is to aim for 10% increase in hits to our website and views to our video per month from May until December.

12. Our trike designer worked on 4 new trike prototypes over Memorial Day weekend. Here is one of the chassis. He has nicknamed the one below the rambler, after the car because of its look. (Oh and observe our new steel table addition we bought this month for welding)!

New Trike Prototypes

2011-05-31T08:28:00.001-05:00

Our amazing trike designer/engineer/president was hard at work this weekend. He has come up with a few new trike prototypes.

In the photo below: Up on wheels is the completed frame for the experimental DOTT "Ultra Compact" trike, to be tested this summer. In the right, foreground are some of the parts for the slightly larger experimental "Compact" version of the DOTT trike, waiting to be built. On the bench in the background is the partially built frame for a low, fast, seven speed version of the DOTT trike to be used to test some concepts and also advertise for HWI in local events and races.

Below: A rear view of the full size DOTT trike, seen on the left, as compared to the much smaller DOTT Ultra Compact, seen on the right.

Below: A view of the full size, second generation DOTT trike in the rear and the new and improved third generation DOTT trike, in the Ultra Compact size, in the foreground. All future third generation trikes, in all sizes, will have numerous small improvements which will strengthen the frame and reduce weight by several pounds. They will also have an available option for easily removable side supports for those who need them.

Below: For several years now HWI has had a "full size" adjustable hand pedaled trike design that can fit a wide range of people. However, we have come to recognize the advantage of having at least one smaller size, adjustable design to fit larger children thru small adults. As a part of our effort to try and define what the ideal dimensions would be for this smaller, second size, we are building two new prototypes this summer. For now they are being called the "Compact" and the

"Ultra Compact" (or "Cutie") prototypes. They will be tested with a wide range of users to see which dimensions work best for this smaller size.

The partially completed trike shown in this picture, the first Ultra Compact prototype, will spend a few months being tested in the States. Later this summer, this particular trike may end up going to the jungles of Peru for use by a young disabled girl.

The Ultra Compact DOTT prototype shown in the foreground is approx. 5 inches shorter, 2 inches lower and 1 inch narrower than the full size version in the background.

Happy 97th Birthday

2011-05-30T09:02:00.001-05:00

On Saturday I went to the nursing home to visit our oldest His Wheels team member, Mr. Ken who just turned 97 this week. Back in 2006 I was talking to Ken's "older friend" Bob at church. Whenever Bob saw me we'd have a conversation that went like this. Bob: "How many bikes are in your basement?" Alice: "I don't have a basement. How many bikes would fit in your basement?" Bob: "I don't have a basement." Well on this particular morning Bob went on to say, "but Ken, (sitting next to Bob) has a basement." I didn't know Ken and he had hearing aids in so I wasn't sure he was following our crazy conversation. But all of a sudden Ken said, "Over a 100 could fit in my basement. When are you going to bring them by?" I told Ken I'd bring some by two days later. Then I asked, "can you have bikes in your retirement community house?" He said, "Don't ask, Don't tell!"

When I ended the conversation my head was spinning. I wondered what had just taken place? Did Ken know what he just signed up for? Did he hear the conversation? So, I found one of HWI's board members, Tom, and told him what had just happened. I asked Tom to go and see if Ken knew what he was getting himself into. Indeed he did and he couldn't wait.

The next day as I was telling someone about Mr. Ken I found out that Ken's basement had white carpeting. I called Ken and said, "I hear your basement has white carpeting." He said, "Don't worry about that, the carpet rolls up." No one bothered to tell me that to get to the basement we had to walk through the front entrance way, through the living room, down the stairs that makes a 90 degree turn at the bottom, of which all of that was off white carpet and the same for the walls. Ken's "underground bike operation" became the talk of the community. He loved having us come every week to work on bikes and we did so for over a year and a half. We definitely left our mark(s) on the walls, in the community, and on Ken's life and he has left his mark on His Wheels too.

A few months ago his community paper wrote a story about him. After interviewing Ken, the writer, who was new to the community showed the story to another person on the editorial team. They said, "You don't have the whole story. You must go back and get the rest." Ken had left out his bike operations. So, one day I got a call from the writer. He said, "Ken told me you would have to tell the rest of the story." It's hard to outwit a 97 year old like Mr. Ken.

So as I went to visit Ken on Saturday I was reminded of something my Aunt told me years ago. "Alice you should be a pastor." Well that sounded like an impossible idea. However my Aunt's words have come true in so many ways through His Wheels. My title is HWI Executive Director but I am keenly aware that in many ways I am the pastor of our tight knit team.

Oh and of course Mr. Ken is still working for His Wheels even as he lay in the nursing home bed. He has a stack of our new brochures on his bedside table. He wouldn't have it any other way. Thanks Mr. Ken. We are praying for your recovery.

Cutie-Trike Prototype

2011-05-28T16:18:00.001-05:00

Our engineer Kevin is working on 4 new trike prototypes. He just made a little one that has been nicknamed cuitie. Another one he's planning to do is a compact trike and one for racing in the US for marketing purposes. What fun it is to go into the shop. I can't believe God has allowed me to have a part in such a fun ministry with so many neat people.

His Wheels Resources

2011-05-27T17:02:00.001-05:00

We exceeded our goal - 404 people have watched our new His Wheels DVD. Thanks for your help. It's still possible to make 500 or more by the end of the month.

Now we are on to sharing our new brochure. You can see it by clicking the link below.
Since yesterday I have delivered brochures to:
a Chiropractic Office in Naperville
a Massage Therapists Office in Wheaton
a Bike Shop in Wheaton,
our Graphics Artists at Trader Joe's
Our Landlord
Our Volunteers
For a new church plant in Lombard
Board member and friends and church partnership in Bronson, Michigan.

If you would like to help us distribute some of our 10,000 brochures, let us know.
http://www.hiswheels.org/Resources/pdf/brochure/HWIbrochure.pdf

Sharing the ride with others

2011-05-26T21:22:00.000-05:00

Kim, featured the following on her blog http://road2beautiful.wordpress.com/

This has become feature week at the Road to Beautiful where I seem to be highlighting some of my friends and what they are about...I hope you don't mind, because really, the people I am highlighting are all on their own journeys towards Beauty in their own way and it is good to notice it is not all about weight loss...

Today I want you to meet Alice. I met Alice a few years ago when I spent a week at ELIM. Remember, the race team I was part of when I ran Nashville a few weeks ago?? Alice is one of the stateside ministry workers who came to ELIM for a week of rest before setting out into the rest of what God had called her to.

This is what I remember of Alice from that week on the banks of the Huron River. She was kind and sweet-natured. She was quiet, which I tend to notice because I am NOT quiet. Yet, in her quietness, she was passionate about the ministry God had given her and how He was using her in practical ways to serve others and that passion was contagious. Her ministry you might ask? It is called His Wheels International and is a ministry that provides bikes to people. They take donations of bikes, fix them up and give them away and have given away bikes to people affiliated with 85 different countries. They reach out to immigrants, refugees, international students, ex-offenders and missionaries who may be in need of a bike.

HWI also has a global ministry. On an international scale, Alice and her team created a prototype for a hand-pedaled three wheel bike, they call a trike. This trike was designed with people in third wold countries who have been disabled due to things like polio or land mines and do not have use of their legs any longer to be able to pedal. Providing a trike gives them a sense of dignity as they can now get themselves places and care for themselves without having to drag themselves through the dirt to get where they need to go. How fantastic is THAT?!

Currently on the global scale, HWI now provides plans, resources and information for the development of these trikes with the hope and vision that these trikes can be manufactured locally, thereby not only providing one person with transportation, but a community with a means for employment. More dignity to be had...

If you can't tell, I am awfully proud to know Alice, honored to call her friend, and humbled to have been able to serve her in some small way at ELIM. In a small way, I feel like I have had a part in impacting the world, by serving her.

Since I recently finished Nashville and all the fundraising, I wanted to highlight a few of the people I met so you can see the impact ELIM has and how it practically impacts the rest of the world. I asked Alice to write something about what ELIM was for her. Here is what she has to say.

: Alice on the original prototype for the hand pedaled trike they designed. Isn't is cool!

“And the word of the Lord came to [Alice], Depart from [Wheaton,IL] and turn eastward and hide yourself by the brook Cherith [Elim Retreat Center]…And the ravens [Mars Hill Church folk and Elim staff] brought [Alice] bread and meat in the morning, and bread and meat in the evening, and [Alice] drank from the brook. And after a while the brook dried up [my week at Elim]…Then the word of the Lord came to [Alice], Arise, go to [Wheaton, IL- resume ministry with His Wheels International].” (I Kings 17:2-8)

Warning! Big things ahead! The Lord directed me to the early part of Elijah’s work while on a Sabbath retreat at Elim Retreat Center June 1-5, 2008, after 21 months of intense Christian Service. “As the Lord the God of Israel lives, before whom I stand, there shall be neither dew nor rain these years, except by my word.” (I Kings 17:1) Elijah was obedient to God, delivered the message to King Ahab and then departed to the brook Cherith.

While studying this section of scripture I was struck by how importance it is for me to follow and obey God even if I don’t understand why at first. The Lord knows best the timing and rhythm my life needs. Elijah’s ministry had just begun and so had my position as Founder and Executive Director of His Wheels International (HWI). The events in Elijah’s life were only going to get bigger and grander. But before He got to the next event, the Lord told him to go and drink from the brook Cherith where the ravens would feed him. The Lord did the same for me through the opportunity to go to Elim Retreat Center for a week of being pampered and cared for.

While at Elim God impressed on my life again the importance of keeping Sabbath rest, as a lifestyle, even amidst the hectic times of being the Founder and Executive Director of His Wheels. Then I’ll be a little more pliable and able to handle more things as they come.

The Lord knows when I need time for “self-care,” just like Elijah did. Time to fill up on Him before yet another intense season of ministry. Going to Elim was a time to relax, laugh, rest, play, enjoy God’s creation and spend time alone with my Savior. The location in the forest of Michigan was conducive to turning my cell phones off (especially since I couldn’t get reception), shutting down the internet (since it wasn’t easily accessible), and resting from the schedules that blared in my head.

Kim thanks for running the race to make it possible for Christian Ministers to stop their hectic pace of ministry and get refilled at the brook. To get a glimpse of the ministry God has called me to, I’d invite you to take 5:18 min. to enjoy the ride that I’ve enjoyed over the last 7 years as the Founder and Executive Director of His Wheels International. You will see that God wasn’t kidding. There were and still are big things ahead for HWI. Our goal is 400 hits on our new youtube video by the end of May. We are at 360 hits. Can you help us far exceed our goal? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=htdxAYSNqE4. Visit our website atwww.hiswheels.org

Alice Teisan

Thanks for reading guys. I hope you will enjoy the HWI video like I have and that you will be blessed by getting to know Alice a little bit and the ministry she provides to her community and to the world.

New Brochure

2011-05-26T08:28:00.002-05:00

After 3 years of working on our new brochure it is finally here. It was worth the work and the wait. If you would like to help us spread the word to your friends, family, associates, and acquaintances, let us know. We had over 10,000 printed and are willing to send you enough to pass out, to include in your yearly letter to friends and family, to distribute at church, or to share at your other venues.

http://www.hiswheels.org/Resources/pdf/brochure/HWIbrochure.pdf

DVD Update May 24th

2011-05-24T08:36:00.000-05:00

Oh me of little faith. On May 6th one of our consultants asked, "What would it take to have 400 people view the new His Wheels video by the end of May?" For me it seemed impossible. I had no idea how to rally the troops. But then I went to my friends on our social media sites. As of this morning 324 people have viewed our DVD. Thanks for your part in spreading the word about HWI. We can do it with your help. If you have viewed the DVD, pass the challenge along to a friend of yours.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=htdxAYSNqE4

Email Surprise

2011-05-24T08:28:00.000-05:00

Here is the fun note that awaited me in my email inbox this morning.
"My fiance and I are avid bike riders, and also love Jesus! We are getting married in August and in lieu of giving wedding favors, we wanted to put that money towards something more meaningful. We got online and searched for some sort of Christian Bike ministry and found you guys! Also, our wedding has a bike theme to it, so this couldn't be more perfect! We looked up your video on youtube and watched it. I love what you guys are about and the impact you are making for Christ! I was curious if you have any information or literature that we could share with our guests? I am so excited to have found you guys! Look forward to hearing from you!"

DVD Update

2011-05-23T20:11:00.002-05:00

As of this evening we have had 306 people view the video. Thanks for everyones help. With the help of our growing His Wheels team I am fairly confident that we can make 400 viewers of the video by the end of May. When the challenge came in from a consultant I questioned how could this happen. So, thanks for showing me how!

DVD Challenge Update

2011-05-23T09:06:00.000-05:00

Thanks to everyone who has watched our His Wheels video and passed the video on to their friends. As of this morning 287 people have watched it on Youtube. Our goal is 400 people by the end of May. Join us in reaching our goal. Many have shared the link by FB, a few have posted it on their blog, others have sent the link to their friends through email.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=htdxAYSNqE4

Movie Challenge

2011-05-21T08:55:00.002-05:00

By this morning we had 246 people who have seen our video on You Tube. One consultant posed a challenge,"What would it take to have 400 people view your video by the end of May?" Thanks everyone. We are over halfway there.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=htdxAYSNqE4

A Divine Delivery

2011-05-21T08:47:00.000-05:00

Yesterday a truck driver delivered one of our trike manufacturing fixture sets. I could tell he was puzzled by what he had just delivered. So, I told him about our hand-pedaled trike and showed him the different ones. He told me his brother was an olympic wheelchair racer in the China para-olympics and now lives in Champaign, Illinois. I'm off to try and connect with him.

The Perfect Pick

2011-05-16T11:17:00.001-05:00

One little boy got a bicycle on Saturday. When the church family delivered it the little boy said, "This is just the bike I wanted." We serve an amazing God. Only He knew the perfect bike for this child. No detail is too small for our Sovereign Lord! Thank you Lord for getting this little boy the bike He always wanted.

Wheaton E. Free & Lincoln School Partnership

2011-05-16T09:30:00.003-05:00

Yesterday I sat in church surrounded by those from about seven churches in South Wheaton and Glen Ellyn. We were all gathered together to participate in CareFest, which is a day when the churches come together. The first hour was a combined church service. The next couple hours we went out and worked in the community doing over a dozen different projects. What a powerful thing to see the Church serving the community.

Before the service started I read through a stack of response cards from 11 families in my church, Wheaton Evangelical Free Church (WEFC) who had delivered 16 bicycles to 11 different families in need within our community, over the past 2 weeks. Many bikes went to refugees from several different countries. The project was done in partnership with His Wheels, WEFC and Lincoln School in District 200. Sitting in church on CareFest Sunday, reading these responses was a rich act of worship for me.

When looking for families to deliver these bikes, I wrote in an email, "If you are looking for an opportunity to knock on a neighbor's door, deliver a bike from WEFC, and get a big smile in return, we would appreciate hearing from you." Here are some of the responses those delivering bikes received:

"A 7 year old girl was very excited to hear I had arrived with the bikes! She hopped right on and rode down the sidewalk. Her little brother was too shy to get on his bike with me there..."

"We took the bike to the door and a little girl clasped her hands together with delight and ran out her front door in her stocking feet." After getting her shoes and coat on she was off-"riding around the condo complex in circles. She and her mom both said many "thank you's!"

"The girls were very happy and thanked us several times. We bought them locks, and set the combos with them. We showed them how to use the locks, the hand brakes and the speeds. They offered us old bike parts, which we will go back and get."

"One happy little girl. It was a joy!" This delivery quote described how I felt sitting in church on CareFest Sunday, worshipping with the Church of South Wheaton, Glen Ellyn, and Warrenville.

2011-05-16T08:58:00.001-05:00

Video challenge

"What would it take for this to be viewed by 400 poeple by the end of May?" This was a question from one of our consultants.

"The video is well produced, clear with a strong message and you and eveyone should be pleased with it." John

"A good video is one that you want to keep going even after it ended. This is a great video." Jim

I'm not sure what the answer is. I thought I'd pose the question to my FB and twitter fans. Could you help me reach the goal by sharing our video on your FB site. If there are other venues you have where we could share it, let us know.

http://www.youtube.com/user/HisWheelsIntl?feature=mhee#p/a/u/0/htdxAYSNqE4

New Brochure

2011-05-15T13:01:00.006-05:00

Tomorrow I'm off to the printer with His Wheels new brochure. The process took 3 years. It included getting our logo trademarked, redoing the logo graphics, coming up with a tagline, formulating our mission statement, defining our programs, and moving into a new headquarters.

In addition a brochure needs a good graphics artist. HWI has Ray Wu to thank for that service. It also requires visiting the printer for choosing paper, deciding on the # of copies, getting quotes and praying for the funds. Thanks to all who helped in that process. We are getting 10,000 full color tri-fold copies, each for under 12 cents. Thanks to the printer for working with HWI and helping us produce a quality brochure way below market value.

Then lets not forget there are words and pictures needed for the brochure. It takes time to get the words right and make everyone involved happy. After the words get on the paper then it requires many rounds of proof reading. I think the memo line for the last 2 months read: Final Proof of Brochure. Well, it is now complete. Thanks to all who contributed in each of these parts of the process.

I also want to thank those who have made His Wheels who we are today. The list includes over 100 different volunteers just since moving into our headquarters last May. Then there are our many different consultants, and vendors. But the biggest thanks goes to the Lord Jesus Christ, the One who we love, serve and live for.

The brochure will be posted on our website soon. If you would like multiple copies to pass out we are more than happy to get them to you. For instances if you would like to include them into your yearly friends and family mailings or to distribute at the clubs, organizations, events or churches you attend we would welcome the opportunity of getting our information out in these ways and other ways you may come up with.

important Lessons gained through participating

2011-05-03T08:11:00.003-05:00

Yesterday a 10 year old missionary kid came to get a bike. When it came time for him to give a donation I had the opportunity to make it a teachable moment. I explained how giving is an issue of the heart. I asked him if the bike was valuable to him. He said, "Yes." I pointed out that when we get something of value we are willing to give until it hurts. I also pointed out that his giving was a way for him to have a part in the ministry of HWI. I shared the story of how when God first challenged me to buy bikes in Tanzania He asked me to give $1,200, the cost of my road bike, which I had just ridden up on and this young boy saw. I said, it was a lot of money because I was only making $450 at the time. I explained what that meant. I said, but God gave it all back to me and more within a week. I said my giving $1,200 is where HWI began. Four years ago they had received bikes from us while on furlough, from my backyard. They made mention of how God had grown HWI.

I also shared how we all like to get something for free, especially me. But I explained that a donation does not mean give as little as you can and get as much as possible. It means give what God is asking of you. So he and his dad went out to the van and prayed.

What a precious sight to see this 10 year old come in holding his donation between prayer folded hands, with his head bowed over his hands. I watched as he placed his donation in our locked donation box realizing this young life was changed by the experience of getting a bike. This young boy came in for a bike and I watched him leave forever changed by the challenge of participating in the ministry of HWI in his own way. He left having met God. I shutter to think what he and his siblings would have missed if they weren't given the opportunity to participate in this way. I witnessed many things that are near to my heart:

1. The life lessons that a bike has to teach us

2. The fact that giving is an act of worship

3. We can all participate in Christ's Kingdom and reach our full potential in ministry

4. HWI is a ministry who's platform is a bicycle but our goal is that bicycle transportation will facilitate life transformation.

Wheaton Evangelical Free Church & His Wheels Partnership

2011-05-01T16:43:00.006-05:00

Last fall the elders and pastors at WEFC, my home church, agreed to partner with HWI to serve our community. Today HWI was part of two different programs at the church. Inside we had a booth for disability Sunday where we featured our trike. Outside we had 16 bikes that HWI prepared for 11 families in the neighborhood affiliated with Lincoln School this week. Eleven families from the church picked up bikes at the church today and will be delivering them to our church neighbors soon.

What a fun way for HWI to begin May, which begins our 7th year of ministry and our 2nd in our headquarters.

I never tire of seeing so many bikes lined up together

All the signs of spring

Thanks Jeanne for your amazing coordination between His Wheels, Lincoln School and Wheaton E. Free. You are a liaison par excellent!

Thanks Lord God Almighty for such a perfect day. Seeing a group of bikes has always impressed me. I never dreamed I'd be in the picture as the Founder and Executive Director of a cycling organization. This month begins 7 years. What a way to begin the year!

Disability Sunday at Wheaton E. Free Church. HWI had a booth with our trike.

Thanks Brian for sharing your photography and artistic flare by taking this photo.

A picture is worth 1,000 words!

Move over mom, I'm steering this trike

It's all under control mom!

Workday Results

2011-04-30T15:56:00.007-05:00

Today we had 14 volunteers at our workday. Six of them were young adults and the other eight of us were young at heart. We had four new volunteers and an international friend, Joel, from Tanzania. It was his first time to see our headquarters.

Wheels Hung, bikes organized

foosball game in place

Trike holders put in the wall, wheel blocks made so the three trikes can hang up

Free floor space

Table area cleaned and can now be used

Sale bike room sorted. If you are in need of a bike, we sell some used bikes

Office cleaned

Wouldn't it be nice if the office stayed like this?

16 children's bikes prepared this week. Ready to be delivered to tomorrow through a partnership with Wheaton Evangelical Free Church and Lincoln School

Tire racks designed and built by Kevin, our in house engineer. We got two racks. Each rack will hold about 200 tires. Oh we are sooooooo glad to finally have all our tires sorted

Room to walk between the 2 tire racks to access all sizes of tires

Imagine, our tubes are all sorted too and located in the same area as the tires.

Thanks to all those who helped us paint, sort, clean, sweep, work on bikes, do carpentry work, organize the office and all the other things we did from 9AM-2PM today. Our workday was a huge success.

Workday Tomorrow

2011-04-29T15:00:00.001-05:00

Join us tomorrow for a workday at His Wheels Headquarters from 9A-2P. We have jobs for all ages and skills. We are building workbenches, hanging tires, wheels, cleaning bikes, windows and the building and the list goes on. If you can't join us in person, then we would covet your prayers, which is just as important kind of work for us.

Work Day Saturday April 30, 2011

2011-04-26T18:27:00.001-05:00

We are having a workday at His Wheels International on April 30, 2011 from 9AM - 2PM. We have jobs for everyone. They include painting, cleaning, bike stuff, mounting things on the wall. All are welcome. You can find directions on the front page of our website at www.hiswheels.org. Look forward to seeing you all there.

Divine Encounter

2011-04-19T15:04:00.002-05:00

Today while shopping I saw a woman in a motorized chair who was looking intently at me. I asked, "Could I help you get something off the shelf?" She said, "No, I was looking because I think I know you." It wasn't so. I passed her in another aisle and gave her one of my tracts. She saw the picture of our trike with the young man from Bulgaria, without legs. She said, "No wonder why your face reflects love." Thanks Joyce for giving to me today!

His Wheels International

2011-04-09T18:05:00.000-05:00

Celebrate!

2011-04-01T15:20:00.001-05:00

We began today as a "Faith based ministry" defined by mentor(30 years) and co-founder of Pioneer Girls. "Faith based begins when the economic resources end." We needed $1,700 to cover April's rent to complete our first year in our new building debt free. By 12:00PM we received rent and more. Thanks to all for your prayers, encouragement and help!

I began the day clinging to the cross and listening to a sermon by Denis Lyle on Abraham sacrificing Isaac. He said, "A tried faith is a trusted faith." My prayer is that the same can be said of the ministry of HWI.

Happenings at HWI

2011-03-28T09:32:00.001-05:00

November 2010: Wheaton Evangelical Free Church (WEFC) partnered with HWI. We look forward to ministering together, providing our immigrant local neighbors with bicycles while also providing a tool for expanding Christ’s Kingdom.

December 2010: Seth, a talented video artists spent a day filming for a new HWI DVD.

New Year’s Day 2011: As we at HWI said Good Night to 2010 in Wheaton, a container was pulling into Soddo Christian Hospital in Ethiopia. The container contained our first crate trike shipment filled with one completed trike and 15 trike kits. It was an Ethiopian leader who sparked the vision for our trike division back in 2005.

We packed the crate within the first week of being in our new Headquarters. What an exciting way to end 2010 and simultaneously begin 2011, having the trikes arrive in Ethiopia! See the full story at our blog. See address below.

February: Seth had finished the first cut of the DVD. We as a team were able to view it and give input. He still has to do the final editing of the DVD. Pray that God’s gift of creativity and inspiration will infuse Seth as he finishes this project. It is our desire that the DVD would glorify God and portray the ministry of HWI in an accurate, inspiring, and informative way.

February 18th: A second trike went to Maxene in Haiti. He received our first trike rode the trike so hard he broke one of the tubes. This helped Kevin identify a weakness in the frame and he made the needed changes. We wanted Maxene to do field testing on the revised trike version. In addition, we sent a trike repair kit so a welder could fix the first trike and allow another person to have wheels.

February 20th: I spoke at a Sunday potluck at Church of the Great Shepherd in Wheaton.

February 25th: HWI was featured at a Mission Fun night at Naperville Presbyterian Church. The trikes went to Haiti with a group from that church.

February 26th: Board Meeting. The majority of the meeting was spent going over the budget, which is a difficult but necessary part of an organization. In 2010 we had $41,000 come in. Our goal for 2011 is $75,000. Thanks for your part in helping us meet our financial obligations and remain debt free.

March 1st: We finished our Trike Specific Brochure and sent a copy to I-TEC who partnered with us last year. I-TEC will send out information about our trike program to those who inquire about their various programs. The I-TEC slogan is, “Our ministry begins where the road ends.”

March 3-6th: We had a booth at the “Mission on Your Doorstep Conference,” held at Wheaton Bible Church.

March 19th: We had a workday. Ten people attended, five of which were new to HWI. We hope to institute regular workdays where individuals and a variety of church groups can come together, exercise their talents, and use their strengths to further His work through HWI.

March 24th: A Master’s level leadership class from Wheaton College will take place at our headquarters. I will be the guest lecturer.

April: Our one-year anniversary in our headquarters. The building has allowed us to expand our ministry. We have been able to work through the winter getting bikes out every week to World Relief.

Clarifying Ministry Focus

2011-03-26T09:03:00.001-05:00

In the last newsletter I did not articulate our refined bicycle focus. After our first 5 years of ministry we evaluated our bike and trike programs. We want to continue in our strengths, doing what we do best, and stop that which we weren’t doing well enough.

With our bicycle division we refined our focus to reflect our strengths. We began HWI with an emphasis on getting bikes overseas, on containers, and by buying them in different countries. We have found, however that there is a huge need for bicycles in DuPage County and throughout the United States as a primary means of transportation.

We also found that to grant money or sending containers overseas is wrought with logistical difficulties. Therefore we have discontinued granting money for those purposes. Unless individuals or organizations approach us, because they have a container and want us to have us donate bikes to put in it, we will focus our bike efforts nationally (within the U.S.).

We do keep an international focus through our hand-pedaled trike division. Our goal is to partner with missions and other organizations and provide the tools for the nationals to fabricate trikes in their own country.

"Better than a bike shop!" Jeff

2011-03-22T18:38:00.004-05:00

Trike Side Makeover

Cleaned up just in time for hosting Master’s level leadership class from Wheaton College on March 24th at our headquarters. I will be the guest lecturer.

On March 18th I went to buy some steel industrial shelving today. When I asked the price the business owner, who I'd never met before said, "Oh, your a not-for-profit?" No problem, I'll give it to you. Just let me know what all you need. I can have it by Monday afternoon. What a Mighty God We Serve! Today we picked it up

No time to waste-from the truck to assembled in an hour!

Free shelving-20 feet of it. First 10 feet up. Thank You Lord and thanks to the generous company.

Bye-Bye Mess

Order taking shape

Thanks Elliot for the shelf wood

Pictures and white board hung, floor tiles cleaned.

March Newsletter -Internship Highlights

2011-03-21T11:43:00.006-05:00

Throughout my internship I have been focusing on a developmental theory, which emphasizes that the whole person is important.... The tasks of working on bikes, teaching others how to fix bikes, and giving bikes away are what we do in a physical sense.

Hearing from others during our prayer and update time are the times we connect spiritually. Talking and having fun while working is the environment of the shop. It is never results first and relationships second. The way Alice says it is: ‘If we give away a thousand bikes, but burn out our volunteers, then I don’t want to do this. HWI has to serve those serving within the organization too otherwise it isn’t furthering the Kingdom.’

Alice has challenged me to find the skills and gifts people have. Then to encourage them to contribute in those ways, while steering them away from work that they may not be contributing much through. This kind of strength identification is learned as a leader. I look forward to continuing to learn how to do this.”

Trike Specific Brochure Pg. 2

2011-03-20T20:43:00.004-05:00

DOTT Trike in Ethiopia

The Assembly Fixtures

Along with the development of the DOTT trike, assembly fixtures were also created. These four fixtures allow each part of the frame to be held in perfect alignment during the welding process. They simplify the most difficult part– construction–making it possible for some to build such a trike in as little as 10-25 hours.

These fixtures, along with a welder, tube bender, notcher, drill and various smaller tools are enough to equip a trike manufacturing shop for production. A reasonably experienced welder is recommended. All other production operations can be learned relatively quickly.

Drawings And Documentation

HWI can make many types of documents and drawings available to support trike production:

• Pictures • Standard blueprints • Exploded assembly views • Individual part drawings • Bill of material • Parts sources • Fitting manual

If desired, a highly detailed 3D AutoCad model of the trike is available.

Production Training

HWI is currently producing a trike assembly video. Future plans include a week-long “Trike Building Experience”training course available to those who can come to the Chicago area.

Please contact HWI for more information:

His Wheels International P.O. Box 423 Wheaton, IL 60187 630-510-1005 info@hiswheels.org

All contributions to His Wheels International are tax-deductible. HWI’s Tax-Exempt number is 55-0896471.

In the picture above, a complete DOTT assembly fixture set is shown. The round tubing seen on the large fixture is a trike chassis ready to be welded together.

HWI has many schematic drawings available to support trike production. This example illustrates the major components of the DOTT Frame.

Trike Specific Brochure Pg. 1

2011-03-20T20:39:00.002-05:00

Here is Page 1 of our Trike Specific Brochure:

A picture sparked His Wheels International’s Global Trikes Division...“We need hand-pedaled trikes throughout Africa,” an international leader stated in 2005.

Throughout the world many people have been affected by polio, landmines, and have other physical disabilities. Without transportation, these individuals are left to an animal existence, crawling along on their hands, pulling their paralyzed limbs through the dirt and sewer.

Construction

HWI Dual Offset Tube Trike (DOTT) is most easily built from round or square steel tubing, welded together. It uses relatively common, rugged bicycle parts for the drive train; and equally rugged sealed ball bearings and flat-free wheelbarrow wheels to avoid the spoke breakage and flat tire issues common on rough roads and paths. HWI uses plywood for seat surfaces, but thin steel, woven surfaces, or other seat surface options can be employed. This design can be modified to use different types of wheels, and suit local needs.

Ergonomics

The DOTT design has adjustability in the seat back angle, seat depth, leg length, knee angle and ankle position to properly fit the user. Crank arm length and gearing have been selected to help prevent elbow & shoulder joint strain. The offset frame tube design makes transfer from a chair or wheelchair easier.

Performance

The DOTT is highly maneuverable; it can nearly pivot around the rear wheels. The “direct drive” front wheel allows the trike to be pedaled in reverse for added maneuverability in tight situations. No active brake is provided for this reason as the hand pedals are used as the brake. However there are parking and active brake options available if terrain could be cause for braking needs.

Cost

Costs will vary depending upon the availability of local parts, logistics and location. HWI estimates that the basic material costs will range from a low of $100 per trike or less; to a high of $270 per trike if most or all parts must be imported from the US, and all options are included. Cost estimates do not include shipping. HWI has developed and tested a manufac- turing process that can make it possible for local organiza- tions to build these trikes.

Friday I heard that "Two women severely crippled by polio were fitted with a trike in Sierra Leone this week. One is essentially homeless and has 3 children that hang out on the streets with her all day begging with her....They will return weekly to give us feedback and so we can check on them. So far, the women LOVE their new mobility!" Wow!

Workday March 19th from 9AM - 1PM

2011-03-14T20:11:00.002-05:00

JOIN HWI This SATURDAY MARCH 19th FOR A WORKDAY

Who: All ages (children under 14 must be accompanied by an adult)

When: Saturday March 19th from 9AM-1PM

Where: HWI Headquarter at 21W161 Hill Ave. Glen Ellyn, IL 60137

Why: A workday

What will we do?

Brainstorm group: Compile mission application for trikes
Frame and Hang Pictures
Repair Bikes
Clean Bikes
Clean headquarters: (Bring broom or Vacuum if you can) clean windows and bathrooms
Construction Projects: Call if you fit in this category for specific skills you have, projects to be done and tools you will need.

Directions: We are on the south side of the street in a 2-story brick building. Phan Auto Repair is our neighbor to the East. His garage door faces our back door.

From the East: We are located 0.4 miles from Finley.

From the West: We are located 0.25 miles from the Prairie Path Entrance

Day-to-day in the shop

2011-02-23T08:20:00.003-06:00

Here is a post from Grant

Bike division coordinator & HWI's first intern.

Grant in the summer at the shop

What happens in the shop day-to-day: Each morning one or more of the volunteers greet me heartily as I walk in the shop door. They almost always arrive up to an hour before me to start working on their projects. I check which bikes they are working on, put away bikes/parts that may have just been donated, and make sure our sign has been rolled out.

The majority of the next 3 hours is taken up with helping volunteers with repairs, sorting parts/bikes, checking in with Alice, praying together, and interacting with people picking/dropping off bikes. Because there is no Internet at the shop I don’t spend much time planning new programs or connecting with other organizations that we work with. Because the weather has been very cold we haven’t had many bike heading out besides those we give to World Relief every week.

He's so special he has his own blocks

Prayer Discovery

2011-02-07T08:16:00.005-06:00

Sometimes human interruptions are an important component of prayer. The crying needs of people are part of the Spirit’s sensitivity through prayer. Over the last two days as I’ve set aside time to pray, and have been in the midst of prayer three significant interruptions have come my way.

Through these situations I realized my heart was in prayer but I was also called to give. It is at these times that I have to marry the different components of prayer, which in these encounters required the feet of action. I didn’t seek these encounters but God knew I was available for them to come my way. They were divine encounters that touched God’s heart and the hearts of many as there was a rippling effect outwards from each person I encountered. The rippling impact was as far reaching as Tanzanian as a friend there said, “Tell Alice thank you for helping us to tell our story.”

Prayer is an attitude, that requires action, stamina, perseverance, and interaction with the Triune God. As I come to the throne of God in a posture of humility, with ears, eyes and a heart open to the Lord Jesus the Holy Spirit will uncover new things to me. My discoveries will come through the inspired and inerrant words of Holy Scripture, the leading of the Holy Spirit, the beauty of nature, the individuals that I encounter, and other tools God has creatively made to sculpt me into the child He wants me to become.

It is only in retrospect that I can see these different components of prayer. So, now as I will reach the goal of praying 8,000 hours by the end of February on my Pray 10K journey I now understand the concept of praying without ceasing. However that is only the beginning. Now I must learn to implement the components of praying without ceasing. For me as these interruptions came I was at first annoyed by the interruptions. But now I see I can only pray without ceasing if my attitude is in the right place before God when He asks me to participate in the things that are near to His heart.

As God revealed these amazing discoveries to me I also experienced how only God can fill the deepest places in my soul. Through prayer I am clothed in honor, glory, majesty, blessedness and a richness that rivals all the money in the world. Prayer has provided a thrill and joy that is more exciting than any sports venue I could ever view. It is an adventure second to none. Prayer is enveloped in a peace that passes all understanding. It provides a freedom beyond bounds leaving me in a spacious place beyond what I could ever hope for or dream of uncovering.

Mile Markers-From a trike dream to a reality in Ethiopia

2011-02-03T19:42:00.004-06:00

Assembling 15 trike kit sets for Ethiopia

March 2010

Packaging 15 set of trike kit sets

First week in new headquarters

Constructed crate for 15 trike kits sets and 1 completed trike

It takes an engineer to get the contents for 16 trikes into a 4x4x4 ft crate

One week after we moved in the crate was packed

Mission accomplished-many mile markers behind us.

The trike kits will one day look like this after being welded and painted in Ethiopia

Many miles in front of us

Our neighbors are helping us load the container onto the truck.

The crates next leg of the journey to meet the shipping container.

After 10 days in our new headquarters our first of hopefully many containers left the site.

Final Destination of the trikes

Good bye 2010 in Wheaton IL on December 31st CST

Happy New Year His Wheels International as the container pulled into Soddo Christian Hospital on the morning of January 1 Ethiopian time

The big job of unpacking begins

Every box must be thoroughly checked by a customs officer for contents

A long and tedious process

Mellessa, the first HWI trike recipient waiting on with great anticipation.

The trike crate-Mellessa at front left. Dr. Anderson, American surgeon also looking on.

Mellessa said good-bye to his Ethiopian made trike and hello to his new HWI set of wheels.

He's ready to go to the hospital where he works with Dr. Anderson. Mellessa speaks eight languages so he translates for Dr. Anderson.

Notice the adaptations Mellessa made to his trike:

Added a wheelchair leg support for his right knee that was fused together.

Added wheelchair sides to his trike

Added a plush seat. I wish I had a seat that comfortable for some of those long 100 mile days on my hard bicycle seat.

Many mile-markers behind us and we look forward to the mile-markers ahead of us

Trikes to Ethiopia

2011-01-13T18:31:00.003-06:00

old and new side by side!

As we in America said goodnight to 2010 HWI was simultaneously welcoming in 2011 at Soddo Christian Hospital (SCH) in Ethiopia. Nine hours ahead of Wheaton, Illinois, a container was pulling into the hospital compound. Those at SCH celebrated the arrival of the container and we did too because it included our first crate of 16 trike kits.

This momentous event completes two HWI mile markers and begins yet another new adventure. Back in 2005, three miles from home, through an Ethiopian; the trike division vision was sparked. After seeing a picture of a trike we bought in Nigeria the Ethiopian said, “We need these trikes throughout Africa for those impacted by polio, those hit by landmines and those with other disabilities.” I left with a dream to take a welding class, thinking, if I could weld, I could build a trike. God knew better. A month later while at a party I met Kevin. He said, “I’m a mechanical engineer. Can I design, build and pay for the prototype.” Kevin later told me “it was your determination that moved me to help.”

Then in 2007 I met Carolyn and Harold Adolph, both part of SCH. We began brainstorming about getting trikes to Ethiopia and starting a vocational rehabilitation center at the workshop on the hospital compound. The dream became a reality. But God knew we needed a headquarters from which to construct, pack and ship the crate. On May 1, ten days after signing our new lease, the crate left our headquarters.

The next important job was praying that the container would reach SCH, clearing customs. The container arrived at SCH on January 1^st. On December 31^st, Carolyn arrived at SCH, during a visit from the States. She saw the container pull in, participated in the celebration and watched the Ethiopians begin unloading it before she had to leave.

In 2008 I heard about Mellessa and how a few years earlier the orthopedic surgeon at SCH bought him a locally made trike. Mellessa paid for the trike by working at the hospital. There the surgeon discovered he speaks eight languages. Now Mellessa is the surgeon’s translator, facilitating communication between the surgeon, patient, and family members. I never dreamed our first trike to Ethiopia would replace Mellessa’s old trike.

Thanks for your perseverance and love

Hello 2011

2011-01-03T21:08:00.002-06:00

I'm working on chapter 14 of probably 18 chapters of my memoir. It has been and continues to be an amazing journey. I'm on 2007, telling His Wheels International's story. So I haven't come around to the blog for awhile but I've been writing everyday. May each of you have an awe-filled 2011 with God's amazing adventures and discoveries.

I'm anxiously waiting to find out if the container that we sent 15 trikes to Soddo Christian Hospital in Ethiopia made it there before a friend of mine got there this week. I am hoping she got to see one of the trikes at the hospital. I did hear the container got out of the port and was on its way to Ethiopia a week before Christmas.

We at His Wheels International are excited to see what new bicycle and tricycle adventures we will find the organization participating in this new year.

All I Want for Christmas

2010-12-22T21:56:00.002-06:00

All I want for Christmas is to finish the first draft of my book by December 31st. I am barreling towards the finish line. Tomorrow I will finish Chapter 11. The first 9 chapters have already been through the editor and back for rewrites and approvals. Chapter 12 begins in April 2005-HWI's first project as a organization to get 4 bikes to educators in Angola through Rise International. Maybe 6 chapters to go. The "grueling gusting headwinds" of the difficult chapters are behind me. Now I think "It is a fun downhill coast ahead!"

I must credit my editor and coach Stephanie for her amazing skills, talents and encouragement. Without her my dream would still be spinning around in my head.

First Person Interview December 10, 2010

2010-12-06T13:07:00.006-06:00

This Week's Guest: On First Person Interview with Wayne Shepherd
Alice Teisan

Listen on Friday December 10, 2010 at www.firstpersoninterview.com D10 by

Shepherd at www.firstpersoninterview.com

Alice Teisan is a great example of someone who was called by God in spite of her weakness. Alice had a passion for bicycling and was about to leave on a 1000 mile trip when she suddenly became ill with something that felt like the flu, but was later diagnosed as Chronic Fatigue Immune Dysfunction Syndrome (CFIDS). But God had a design all along to use Alice to be the founder of His Wheels, International.

The mission of His Wheels is to provide pedal powered transportation, with dignity, through global partnerships, as a tool for expanding Christ’s Kingdom. You can read all about it online at http://www.hiswheels.org.

I met Alice a couple of months ago through a mutual friend and it was easy to find her, because our offices are only a couple of miles from each other. So I went to His Wheels and talked to Alice right in the shop where they repair and build some incredible bikes and trikes for Kingdom purposes.

I think you’ll enjoy getting to know Alice on this week’s edition of First Person.

Trike Promo

2010-11-15T16:19:00.003-06:00

"Larissa from Discovery Channel (Canada) enjoys a HWI trike ride at ITEC." I never know what I'll find in my email inbox. How fun is this? Now let's pray that this visibility will open other media doors for HWI.